15 Common is reverb (reverberation) which can make the music sound as if it was recorded in a very large building or a very small room.

The edited sound is recorded on a two-track mastering machine to produce a master tape. The master is then used to make records, cassettes, CDs, or MDs.

Language Study Describing a process

In English, the passive is often used to describe processes. Study these examples:

1. Each instrument is recorded.

2. Special effects are used.

3. Copies can be made.

The passive is made using the verb to be (be, is, are, etc.) and the past participle of the verb. Most technical verbs are regular so the past participle is made simply by adding -ed (Example 1). Watch the spelling of the past participle of verbs like control (controlled) and use (Example 2). The passive infinitive is used in the same place as ordinary infinitives, for example after verbs like must and can (Example 3).

Task 3 Complete this summary of how to make a recording, by putting each of the

verbs in brackets in the correct form. For example:

Each instrument (record) using a microphone. Each instrument is recorded using a microphone.

Each instrument 1 (record) using a microphone. The sound

! (feed) to a mixing desk. The recording level³

(control) and the EQ ! (adjust) by the sound engineer. The output

⁵ (record) on a multitrack. The sounds from the multitrack

⁶ (master) back through the mixer. The tape 1 (remix)

until the musicians are happy with the sound. Special effects can

8 9

(add) on the mixing desk. The remixed tape

(master down) to produce a master tape. This can ¹⁰ (use) to

produce copies in many different formats.

Task 4 \ш Listen to the -ed form of these verbs. Write the verbs in the correct column

according to the sound of their -ed ending.

record check adjust remix shape add use produce control master play

12 3

/id/ /d/ /t/

Examples: add use shape

Word Study Topic sets, 1

One way of remembering new words is to group them into topic sets according to their area of meaning. The words in Task 5 are all concerned with making a recording. They fall into three topic sets: people, places, and equipment. Make your own topic sets for other units in this book.

Task 5 Write these words in the correct column:

studio sound engineer microphone multitrack recorder mixer vocalist musician master tape

Making a recording Places People Equipment

Writing Describing a process

Task 6 There are many stages involved in the production of CD discs. The more

important ones are shown in Fig. 1.

press disc with son

aluminium coat

protective plastic layer

punch centre hole

apply label

electroplate to make nickel father

_{мм* )}

•пи 1	~tJr-	~~iurj
	mr

With the help of the diagram opposite, complete the gaps in this description of the process. Each gap requires one word.

Firstly, a blank perspex disc is ¹ and polished to optical flatness.

Next, it is ²_ and spin-dried. It is then³ with a thin

layer of photoresist and cured in an After that, as the disc is

revolved, a ⁵ beam is used to mark the audio information pattern

on its surface. This process is⁶ as 'cutting' the disc. The photoresist

7 8

is then developed and to produce in the disc's

surface. These pits represent the digital audio pattern.

q

The disc is then given a thin coat to make it electrically

conductive. Next, electroplating is used to make a series of positive and

¹⁰ copies of the master disc. The final negative copy is used to

" a large number of identical CDs. The surface of the CD containing

the pit marks is then ^ll with a 10mm layer of ^ll

followed by a protective layer of I⁴ After ^ll the centre

hole, a is applied and the CD is packaged.

₇

Sound engineer

Listening

Steve is a sound engineer. He describes his work and how you can make your own recordings of live music. The recording is in two parts:

Part 1 The job

Part 2 Making your own recording

Taskl

Before you listen, try to match these specialist terms to their definitions. Compare your answers with your partner.

1. compression

2. distortion

3. echo

4. reverb

a A complete unit of sound of any length is repeated.

b What happens to sound when the signal is too high.

с Weak signals are boosted and strong signals reduced so that the sound is

compressed into a more easily recordable range, d Sound is reproduced in such a way that listeners feel they are in a room of a

particular size.

Task 2 £Э As you listen to Part 1, answer these questions:

1 Where does Steve work? a college

b commercial radio station с recording studio d mobile disco

2 Where did he work previously? a college

b commercial radio station с recording studio d mobile disco

3 When he was a school and college student, what interest did he have in sound? a he had his own band

b he had his own mobile disco с he used to make commercials d he recorded live music

4 What was he recording that day? a a Japanese radio programme b a tape compilation

с a self-study language tape d a whisky commercial

Task 3 И As you listen to Part 2, answer these questions:

1 Which one of these is not required to make a recording? a a mike

b a tape recorder

с a recording studio

d a room with good acoustics

2 What will allow you to make a proper recording? a a Portastudio

b a VU meter с a bargraph d special effects

3 What does a Portastudio combine?

a special effects and a cassette deck

b a mike and a cassette deck

с a mixer and a cassette deck

d a VU meter and a cassette deck

4 Which one of the following is not a special effect? a reverb

b echo

с compression

d distortion

5 What should you do before making the final copy? a take a break

b check the recording levels

с add special effects

d run the tape backwards

Task 4 [Hi Listen again to the complete interview and answer these more difficult

questions:

1. What was unusual about the recording made that day?

2. What's the difference between a commercial mixing desk and a Portastudio?

3. Why should you keep an eye on the bargraph or VU meter when recording?